Train Accident in TN

09/15/02 | scab4faa

[Tennessee_Bob]

Nope - mid 70s here in Oak Ridge.

[TBall]

Hmmm... Maybe the barometric pressure is too low?

[P8riot]

Well. there goes our camping trip to the Smokies.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Channel ten news reporting it right now - they're considering widening the evacuation area later in the day - possibly ten or more cars that have overturned, several ruptured, at least 95,000 gallons of sulfuric acid spilled - laughed at the commentator, said "this stuff is used to make dyes, to make explosives, and it can be very dangerous." Plume is spreading slowly to the east-southeast across Turkey Creek. The lake has been evacuated, along with the surrounding homes and businesses - winds are coming from the west southwest. Low cloud deck and light winds, light mist and drizzle at this time - more rain possible later this evening, but all heavey rain is several miles away.

[Tennessee_Bob]

When were y'all planning on coming out? I'd say that there probably won't be a problem with your trip.

[TN4Liberty]

The spill is on Turkey Creek embayment of the Tennesee River. Oak Ridge is on the Clinch River. The rivers join about 20 miles downstream from both areas.

[TN4Liberty]

Come on... Smokies are a long way from this accident.

[SarahW]

That is the best poem I have ever seen.

[cinFLA]

I am in series need of a shower, now...

Do you mean "serious"? I only mention this since I have seen this several times on this site in recent days.

[SarahW]

It's cool in east Tenn. today.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Well, yeah, he meant "serious," but then, this is Chad we're talking about - we don't like to point out mistakes and misspellings, it tends to hurt his self-esteem. Then he gets depressed, and the nurse won't let him back on the computer for a while.

[meyer]

Nope - mid 70s here in Oak Ridge

Same here in Chattanooga. Is it raining or misting up there in Oak Ridge?

[Tennessee_Bob]

Intermittent drizzle/heavy misting. It's a nice day, actually, unless you're downwind from Turkey Creek.

[meyer]

The spill is on Turkey Creek embayment of the Tennesee River. Oak Ridge is on the Clinch River. The rivers join about 20 miles downstream from both areas.

Well, I hope they can contain it, neutralize it, or dilute it sufficiently so that those of us downstream can drink it. Lots of people drink from the Tennessee River (after a little treatment, of course).

[F.J. Mitchell]

When I see your name, Fairbanks, I've just assumed you were posting from Alaska. You are just two miles outside the area of evacuation-I'll bet you would rather be up about Fairbanks, AK or better yet the North Pole right now, huh?

[TN4Liberty]

Oak Ridge used to rely on dead vegetation in the area as an indicator if they had a hot leak somewhere in their material handling procedures.

I have worked in Oak Ridge for 25 years, and I do not believe this to be the case. Process piping is contained in operating facilities, and does not criscross the landscape. Not saying it didn't happen, but there are a lot of urban legends about Oak Ridge, mutant deer, seven-legged sheep that glow in the dark, etc.

I do agree about the catfish though.

[meyer]

Intermittent drizzle/heavy misting. It's a nice day, actually, unless you're downwind from Turkey Creek.

We had the drizzle this morning, but now its moving on. Still mostly cloudy, but slowly clearing. That means I will be cutting the grass tomorrow. :^)

I think that the mist in the air is adding to the dissipation of the cloud - the water is mixing with the H2SO4 to create a diluted, but still nasty mist. Not something I want to inhale.

[Rebelbase]

Ducktown Tenn. is a better example of acid rain.

[TN4Liberty]

Water and H2SO4 is battery acid I believe. Nasty is right.